Muratti focus for Jersey Bulls cornerstone Giles

Muratti focus for Jersey Bulls cornerstone Giles

The fullback is yet to miss a game for the Bulls this season – making 28 consecutive league and cup appearances to date – but that impressive run is set to come to an end later this month when he reports for duty with the JFA Combination.

Jersey manager Martin Cassidy last week named St Paul’s-registered Giles in his Inter-League Cup squad for the first time this campaign, ready for their quarter-final tie against the Southern Amateur League at Springfield on 29 February. The Bulls play away on the same day in Combined Counties Division I – at Fleet Spurs.

‘It’s a tough one,’ admitted Giles, who made his Muratti debut against Alderney in 2013, before starting the subsequent final against Guernsey.

‘I’ve enjoyed being a part of the Bulls squad week in, week out but ultimately I have to look further than that. I want to be involved in as many tournaments as possible.

‘Given the position Bulls are in [21 points clear, with a 100% league and cup record] I feel it’s the right time to step in and represent the Jersey national team again.

‘I’m taking as many opportunities as I can and I’ve got to start thinking about whether I want to be involved in the Muratti squad. The last thing I want to do is put my nose out with something like that.’

Giles came off the bench in the Muratti semi-final and final in 2019; his third and fourth caps respectively following a six-year hiatus.

Inter-League victory for the Combination on 29 February would take them one step closer to international honours, as the tournament winner will represent England – in the Three Lions kit – at the 2021 Uefa Regions Cup. Jersey achieved that feat in 2013, when they travelled to San Marino.

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